Nestled in the enchanting Italian countryside lies Cantina Tufaio, a winery that transcends the typical vineyard experience and offers visitors a magical journey through history, culture, and exquisite flavors. Our recent visit to this remarkable establishment was nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment we arrived, we felt a profound sense of welcome and warmth, a testament to the family's dedication to hospitality and their passion for winemaking. A Warm Welcome As we approached Cantina Tufaio, the serene beauty of the surrounding landscape set the tone for what was to come. Vineyards stretched out as far as the eye could see, bathed in the golden glow of the afternoon sun. The air was filled with the subtle scent of grapes, promising a day of indulgence and discovery. We were greeted by the young daughter of the winery, affectionately known as Nicoletta. Her warm smile and gentle demeanor immediately made us feel at home. Nicoletta, with young youthful zest and profound knowledge of winemaking, was more than just a guide; she was the heart and soul of Cantina Tufaio. Her stories of the vineyard's history, passed down through generations, added a rich layer of depth to our tour. They were so nice to accomodate our young 7 year old son as well! The Tour: A Journey Through Time Our tour began with a stroll through the lush vineyards. Each row of vines told a story, meticulously cared for and nurtured to produce the finest grapes. The highlight, however, was the visit to the wine caves. These ancient, 70-meter deep caves were a marvel of engineering and tradition. Carved into the hillside, they provided the perfect environment for aging wines. The cool, constant temperature and the unique microclimate of the caves have been harnessed for centuries to create wines of unparalleled quality. As we descended into the depths, the ambiance changed dramatically. The dim lighting and the cool, humid air created an almost mystical atmosphere. It was easy to imagine the generations of winemakers who had toiled here, perfecting their craft. The sight of row upon row of barrels, each holding the promise of future delight, was awe-inspiring. A Culinary Delight No visit to Cantina Tufaio would be complete without experiencing the culinary delights prepared by Nonna herself. After our tour, we were treated to a sumptuous lunch in a charming, rustic dining room overlooking the vineyards. The meal was a testament to the Italian tradition of farm-to-table dining, with each dish showcasing the freshest local ingredients. Nonna's cooking was nothing short of a revelation. We savored every bite of homemade pasta, fresh garden vegetables, and artisanal cheeses. Each dish was a perfect harmony of flavors, lovingly prepared and beautifully presented. It was evident that Nonna poured her heart and soul into her cooking, just as she did with the wines. The Wines: A Symphony of Flavors Of course, the true stars of Cantina Tufaio were the wines. Each bottle was a treasure, crafted with care and precision. We began our tasting with their method champenoise sparkling wine. This elegant wine dazzled our palates with its fine bubbles and delicate notes of citrus and brioche. It was a perfect aperitif, setting the stage for the delights to come. Next, we sampled the Merlot, a robust and full-bodied wine that enveloped our senses with its rich flavors of dark fruit, chocolate, and a hint of spice. The balance and complexity of this wine were truly remarkable, a testament to the skill and dedication of the winemakers. The Pinot Blanc was a revelation, offering a crisp and refreshing contrast to the Merlot. Its vibrant acidity and subtle notes of pear, apple, and floral undertones made it a delightful accompaniment to Nonna's culinary creations. Each sip was a reminder of the unique terroir of Cantina Tufaio, capturing the essence of the land in every bottle. An Unforgettable Experience Our visit to Cantina Tufaio was an unforgettable experience, a rare find that exceeded all our expectations. The combination of stunning scenery, heartfelt hospitality, exquisite food, and world-class wines made it one of the best winery visits we have ever had. Every aspect of our day was meticulously curated to create a memorable and enriching experience. What truly set Cantina Tufaio apart was the sense of family and tradition that permeated every corner of the winery. This was not just a business; it was a labor of love, a legacy passed down through generations. Nonna's presence and her personal touch in every aspect of the winery made us feel like we were part of something special, a privileged glimpse into a world of passion and dedication. Cantina Tufaio is more than just a winery; it is a testament to the enduring art of winemaking and the rich cultural heritage of Italy. For anyone seeking an authentic and unforgettable wine tour, this hidden gem is a must-visit. Whether you are a seasoned oenophile or a casual wine lover, Cantina Tufaio offers an experience that will linger in your memory long after the last sip. As we reluctantly said our goodbyes and made our way back through the vineyards, we knew that Cantina Tufaio had left an indelible mark on our hearts. It was a place where time seemed to slow down, where the simple pleasures of life were celebrated, and where the beauty of the land was captured in every bottle of wine. Our visit was a rare and precious experience, one that we will cherish for years to come.A Hidden Gem of Italian Winemaking

Our afternoon trip to the outskirts of Rome to visit and tour a small family winery in Zagarolo was outstanding. The train was an easy 30-minute ride into the countryside and Nicoletta was there to greet us and drive us to her family's winery. She is sixth generation in the business of making a crisp wonderfully flavored group of wines. The wine tasting was delish, educational, fun and down to earth, she is very knowledgeable and a pleasure to speak with. From tasting the grapes on the vine to the tasty charcuterie board of meats and cheeses, our time was well spent. You feel like family by the time your tour is over. I am looking forward to the case of wines I ordered to arrive soon and will be sharing with my friends and family. Authentic Family Winery

Great experience! A 30 min train ride from Rome . Private tour and tasting experience. Lovely people and fantastic wine and light bites. Highly recommend!Amazing experience! A must do!

Nicoletta is very nice. She gave us a very clear direction from Rome to Zagarola where she picked us up from the train station. At the winery, we got a tour and were able to make many beatiful pictures. We got four wines with machting charcuterie. The wines were lovely and Nicoletta was very knowledgeable .Great experience!

We were picked up at the station by Nicoletta and explored the vineyard with her. We met both her parents and got to know the process of making various wines. The vineyard is family owned for six generations and the wine cellar dates back to 1881, which is very impressive. We got a private tour and tasted three different wines made of mainly local grapes, paired with cheese, bruschetta and various charcuterie. Would definitely recommend! Amazing experience at a local winery

We had a fantastic time on our vineyard tour and wine tasting experience with Nicoletta! She was a fabulous host and made us feel so welcomed. She is very knowledgeable and passionate about her family's wine making business. We enjoyed learning about the wine making process, and seeing the incredible underground wine cellar. The food and wine at the tasting was delicious! This experience was definitely one of the highlights of our trip! Amazing experience!

Everything about the experience was amazing. The communication was great. The pickup from the train station was easy. The tour of the winery was informative and picturesque. And on top of all that the wine was amazing. Wonderful Experience

We loved this experience, Nicoletta was warm, kind and knowledgable and her beautiful winery and vineyard (and wine! And porchetta) was unforgettable. Cannot thank her enough we loved it!Wonderful

From the moment I contacted Nicoletta, she was very helpful. My husband and I were on honeymoon and really wanted to experience wine tasting. Nicoletta collected us from the train station and drove us to her families vineyard. It was a very personal and relaxed experience which allowed us the opportunity to ask lots of questions. All of the wine was delicious along with the food we received. I would highly recommend. Thanks so much, Una and Eoin. Ireland. Wine tasting with Nicoletta

This was definitely a highlight of our trip to Rome. The vineyard was lovely, Nicoletta was so friendly and knowledgeable, and the time spent was so enjoyable. Thank you!Favulous afternoon!

Cannot recommend this enough. Short train ride from Rome and Nicoletta was so friendly and accommodating. Beautiful tour of the family vineyard, then a wonderful tasting. Nicoletta took the time to answer our questions, teach us about recognising good wine and was a pleasure to talk to. If you're looking for a few hours break from the city and an enjoyable afternoon then this is the place to be! Amzing experience!

The tour was wonderful and very informative. As a newbie to Wines Nicoletta was extremely helpful and answered all of my thousands of questions during the private tour. There is no way I can recommend the amazing experience enough.Would recommend for everyone to visit

I have a great time on a winery tour with Nicoletta. The place is absolutely amazing, stunning views and rich history! Nicoletta is lovely, super nice, talkative and so knowledgeable. I had a wonderful time, learned a lot, tried some amazing wines, and the host was superb - what more could I ask for. :)Amazing winery tour w Nicoletta

I was in Italy for two weeks and this was one of the best things I did! Nicoletta is so personally lovely and knowledgeable about wine making. It was truly a pleasure getting to see her family's local cantina and vineyard, in a beautiful setting outside Rome. I left knowing more about the aspects of both wine making and wine tasting. Nicoletta was also very responsive on how to get to her family's vineyard, just a short train rain outside Rome. I would recommend this experience to anyone, I hope to come back someday!

We had a wonderful tour with Dmitri, who allowed us to flexibly change our dates due to flight issues. It was a marvelous experience and we learned a great deal even though my friend and I have been to Rome many times! I highly suggest this :) I love tours With Locals!

Booked this as a surprise for my husbands birthday. The day did not disappoint, wasn't sure what to expect. But honestly the quality of the day was amazing, lovely setting , Nicolette was a great host very knowledgeable, lovely family. Thank you and we will definitely order some wine. Thank you.xxAwesome Day

Nicoletta is a fantastic host and has a very detailed knowledge about wine and wine making. The vineyard’s wines are all little gems. I would go again and will most likely order a case of wine from them.Great host

If you are travelling to Rome you have to try this! We had an amazing tour through an amazing vineyard. Pick up and drop off to the train station which is very handy. The history and location are simply breathtaking! The wine was so fresh and pure, definitely an eye opener into great wines! Nicoletta was a great host, kind and friendly with lots of wine knowledge! Thank you for a great experience! Joe and Shaunagh A MUST!

My wife and i rearly enjoyed our wine tour with nicolette. Lovely person and knows her stuff. We met her parents aswell they to are lovely people. You cant go wrong if you fancy a chilled couple of hours. 100% recommend nicolette and her vineyard.What a lovely afternoon

Do yourself a favor and take some time to see this amazing winery! This place has an interesting history and Nicoletta was really good at explaining their process and quality of the wine 🍇 Apart from the storytelling we were presented memorable wine - that we of course had to bring with us home - and she did serve us some snacks on the side to get a full experience. All in all a fantastic and amazing experience. Thank you Nicoletta 🙌🏻Amazing experience!

Absolutely lovely guide from a very welcoming family at their winery of six generations. This place is right out of a storybook or a film starring Russell Crowe. Nicoletta will answer all questions, no matter how basic or silly, and she has the patience of Job. She picked me up at the train station, and her ever-pleasant mother, who furnished us with snacks during the tasting, drove me back. Do not hesitate to enjoy a one-of-a-kind relaxing experience in the countryside. ILike being part of the family

I don’t even know where to start with this review because there is too much good things too say! Definitely one of the highlight of our trip. Nicoletta is awesome! She and her family are so welcoming and genuine. The winery is beautiful even if it is smaller than other winery you can book on other tours. We were very happy we did this one instead because we got a private experience in a small family business rather than in a more tourists oriented business. It is really charming. She explained us how the history of vineyard, the whole process for making the wines along with the visit of the different part of the vineyard and we finish with the wine tasting. The wine tasting itself was really great as we were just sitting with Nicoletta while she was not only explaining the wines but also talking about Italy and the region of Lazio. It really felt like an apero with friends. It was definitely a nice break from the heat and the crowded streets in Rome. Best way to spend an afternoon in that region! Thanks again Nicoletta!! A must do in your trip !!

We had a lovely time. Nicoletta was very nice and good at explaining. The wine was great and it was interesting to hear about the winery. We also met some nice people there. The winery was really beautiful and it was nice sitting outside. Thank you! Ingrid and Maria Great experience

Nicoletta was a very friendly, knowledgable host. She was kind enough to pick us up from the train and was extremely nice and interesting during the whole tour. She studied Economics in college and knew all about the wine industry in Italy and the process very in depth. This was our first wine tour and the spot was very beautiful. Nicoletta spoke very good English as well which was very helpful. Would definitely recommend! Thank you!Beautiful Personal Wine Tour!

This experience is a MUST. Nicoletta is such an incredible host and she is so friendly. Her family history is very interesting, the winery is beautiful, and the unique ways that her family has made their wine is remarkable! The portions of wine were very generous as well as the food she provided! My husband and I even left with two bottles of wine from the tasting because they were so delicious. So authentic.Wine Tasting at an Authentic Family Winery

This experience is a MUST. Nicoletta is such an incredible host and she is so friendly. Her family history is very interesting, the winery is beautiful, and the unique ways that her family has made their wine is remarkable! The portions of wine were very generous as well as the food she provided! My husband and I even left with two bottles of wine from the tasting because they were so delicious. So authentic.Wine Tasting at an Authentic Family Winery

This was our best part of visiting Italy. Nicoletta's farm was special, because it's in a beautiful small town, she is so knowledgable and she makes you feel very welcomed. I would recommend this to anyone visiting Rome.Wine Tasting at an Authentic Family Winery

My boyfriend & I were staying in Rome for a vacation and were looking to visit a Winery. Nicoletta's "Taste My Wine" experience simply blew us away. Nicoletta was so professional, personal, and thorough throughout the tour. In our opinions, this wine tour is the best you will get - explore a small family winery in an adorable little town outside of Rome. By the end of the tour we hung out in Nicoletta's kitchen drinking wine, eating food and sharing stories about our lives. Perfect experience!Wine Tasting at an Authentic Family Winery

This tour is the perfect way to enjoy a day out of Rome. Nicoletta met us at Zagarolo Station and in a short drive arrived at the family winery. Very impressive history in a charming setting. Best of all, the wines are impressive, too. Nicoletta provides three tastings paired with a generous serving of local snack specialties. Come let Nicoletta show you around this unique six generation hidden gem.Impressive Family Winery